Hello Hackers!
This month we are joined by Meander who will be presenting their talk “Back to Basics: Why we get it wrong, and how to get it right”:
Cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and compliance checkboxes- its about strategy,
leadership, culture, and more. Despite increasing investments in tools and frameworks,
breaches and disruptions continue to plague organizations of all sizes and industries. Why?
Because technology alone doesn’t solve security challenges- but adding strong governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) can.Bio: Mea Clift is a distinguished cybersecurity executive with a multi-decade career rooted in excellence, innovation, and mission-driven leadership. As Principal Executive Advisor for Cyber Risk Engineering at Liberty Mutual, she provides strategic guidance to underwriters and insureds on emerging cyber risks, maturity models, and industry trends—bridging the gap between cybersecurity strategy and enterprise risk.
With deep expertise in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), Mea is a champion of NIST-based frameworks, fundamental security principles, and supply chain security. Her background spans critical infrastructure protection, regulatory alignment, and the development of governance structures that embed security across the business. She is widely respected for her ability to translate complex technical risks into clear, compelling language for executives and stakeholders alike.
A 2025 Honoree of the SC Media Women in Cyber Award and 2024 Cyversity Educator of the Year, published author, and active mentor, Mea teaches Fundamentals of GRC and advocates for diversity in cybersecurity through many organizations including Wicys, Cyversity and ISACA. Outside of her professional work, she is a passionate quilt historian and educator living in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she shares her love of textiles and design alongside her three greyhounds.
Meeting will be on Discord. If you need an invite, look no further.
Talk starts at 6:12 PM U.S. Central, but feel free to hop in early and chat.
— TactiFail